Improvement in carriage-tops



J.A. CHAPMAN. Carriage-Top.

No. 214,884. Patented April 29, 1879.

UNITED STATESPA'I'ENT OFFICE.

JOHN A. CHAPMAN, OF WHITEWATER, WISCONSIN.

IM PRO VEMENT IN CARRIAGE-TO PS.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 214,884., dated April29, 1879; application filed June 13, 1878.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, J OHN A. CHAPMAN, of Whitewater, in the county ofWalworth and State of Wisconsin, have invented certain Improvements inCarriage-Tops, of 'which the following is a specification.

My invention consists, first, in a top consistin g of two uprightpivoted bows connected by smaller bows pivoted to each other and to saidniain bows in such manner as to serve the double purpose of supportingthe covering or cloth and of braces to hold the top in an extendedposition; second, in a clamping device to support the top in thedifl'erent positions or inclinations required, which is locked andunlocked by the act of extending and folding it up; and, third, inproviding the rail or base-frame to which the top is attached withhinged feet or supports adapted to fit readily upon seats of differentinclinations.

Referring to the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 represents a sideelevation of my improved top, embracing the three features of theinvention, the top being represented in an extended and elevatedposition, Fig. 2 representing a similar view with the top folded andturned backward; Fig. 3, a perspective view of one side of the top,looking outward; Figs.

4 and 5, perspective views, showing the supportingclamp, respectively,in a locked and an unlocked position; Fig. 6, a cross section on theline as w of Fig. 3; Fig. 7, a view showing the component parts of theclamp separated from each other. Fig. 8 is a side elevation, showing amodified form of the base or rail and the hinged feet.

Referring first to the construction of the top proper, it consists oftwo main upright bows, A B, pivoted together at their lower ends, of twosmaller or secondary bows, O D, pivoted together at their inner ends,and also pivoted at or near their middle to the bows A B, respectively,the point of connection to the main bows being near the top of thelatter. The

canopy or covering is extended over the outside of the secondary bow Oto the top of bow A, thence to the top of bow B, and downward to theoutside of bow Dfih the manner represented in Figs. 1 and 2.

The ends of the bows G D are connected by curved arms, or otherwiseconnected in such manner that when extended in the horizontal positionthe connecting pivot will be thrown Under the above construction, itwill be seen that when the bows O D are turned outward in a horizontalposition they serve both as seats or braces to hold the bows A B apart,and also as supports to maintain the covering or top proper in anextended position. Upon folding the outer ends of the bows O D upwardthey close compactly together and also close together the bows A B,causing the top to assume a flat compact form, as represented in Fig. 2.

The top constructed as above may, when partially closed, be swungforward and backward at will upon the pivots by which the bows A B aresustained, and then secured in the desired position by opening orclosing the bows, as preferred.

Referring next to the clamping device, by which the top is sustained inthe different positions' required, it will be seen that it consists,essentially, of a plate, E, attached to the bow A, a correspondingplate, F, attached to the bow B, and a supporting-plate, G, attached tothe shifting rail or other rigid support, the three plates being unitedand supported by a single'central pivot, H, attached to the plate G, andprovided with heads or enlargements on its-ends, as shown in Fig. 6.

The plate G has its outer face provided with radial teeth or serrationsto receive corresponding teeth formed on the inner face of the plate F,as shown in Figs. 3, 4., and 5, the arrangement being such that when thetwo plates F Gr are forced together their teeth are caused to interlock,and thereby the entire top is held rigidly in position and preventedfrom swinging either forward or backward.

In order to effect the forcing of the plates F Gtogether, the former isprovided, in its outer face with radial depressions a, terminating attheir sides in inclines or cams b, and the plate E made of such shapethat when the bows A B are partially separated, or, in other words, thetop partially extended, the plate will fit down within the recesses ordepressions in the plate F, as represented in Fig. 5.

When the bows A B are widely separated, as in extending the top, or whenthey are closed together the plate E is caused to ride out of therecesses or cavities in the plate F and upward over the inclines ontothe raised portions of the plate, whereby said plate E, resting againstthe head of the pivot, is caused toothed plate G, so that it interlockstherewith. When, however, the bows A B are only partially separated theplate E drops, as before described, into the recesses of the plate -F,permitting the latter to separate from the plate G, and therebyunlocking the top and permitting it to swing freely forward or backwardupon the pivot H. It will thus be seen that the acts of opening orclosing the top serve also to unlock the same, that whenever fullyextended or closed it is locked firmly in position, and that in order tounlock and permit its forward-and-backward adjustment it is onlynecessary to partially close the bows A B. This arrangement, while beingboth cheap and simple, serves to secure the top firmly in position, andadmits of its. being readily adjusted at any angle or inclinationdesired, and this, too, by the occupant of the carnage.

It is manifest that the precise form and arangement of theclamping-plates are not essential, but that they may be modified asdesired, provided only their general mode of operation is retained.

Referring, now, to the third feature of the invention, (clearlyillustrated in Figs. 1 and 3,) it will be seen to consist merely inproviding the shifting rail or base-frame by which the top is supportedwith supporting-feet I, hinged or journaled thereon in such manner thattheir ends may be turned upward and downward at will, so as to presentthe feet at any angle or inclination required. This arrangement admitsof the arms being applied to seats or bodies having differentinclinations, and adapts the top to be readily applied to any and allseats in the market without the necessity of reshaping or forging thefeet, as usual, to fit the same.

In the form of device represented in Fig. 8 the top is hinged or pivotedto a plate which has the supporting-feet hinged or journaled on itsends.

Carriage seats and bodies as sold in the market have seats differingwidely in the inclination of their sides and backs, and my improvementadmits of the tops being sold in the market, and readily and neatlyapplied to any and all seats regardless of the inclination of theirends. The arms and the rail may be constructed in any form, and unitedin any and secured by screws, in order to admit of the rail beingdetached, and therefore I do not claim, broadly, the idea of passing arail through an eye in a supporting-foot. to force the plate F overtightly against the p In no case, however, has any one hitherto designeda rail for application to seats of different inclinations, or produced arail having all its supports hinged thereto, so as to render it capableof such use. Although rails, as stated, have been made with one or morefeet, capable of being changed in inclination, this was not the end inview, and the remaining feet were so arranged as to prevent the railfrom being practically applied to seats of varying inclinations.

I am aware that an extensible frame having two connected parallel barsat one end, with a supporting-foot mounted loosely around one of thebars in order that the latter might slide therein, is old, thearrangement being such, however, as to prevent the frame from beingapplied to seats of different inclinations. While, therefore, I do notclaim to be the first to attach a single arm looselyto the rail, still Ido claim to be the first to construct a rail with swinging supports whenthe parts are constructed and adapted for adjustment to seats of variousinclinations.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim is 1. In acarriage-top, the combination of the two main bows A B and the twosmaller bows, C D, the latter pivoted to each other and to the main bowsnear the top of the latter, in order to serve as braces, and also toassist in sustaining the cover or top proper.

2. A carriage-top consisting of two upright and two secondary horizontalbows, the latter pivoted to each other and to the main bows,substantially as shown, so as to serve the double purpose of supportingthe edges of the cover and of holding the main bows and top in anextended position.

3. In combination with the bows A B of the carriage-top, plates E F,attached thereto, and a supporting-plate, G, said plates being united bythe pivot H, and constructed and arranged to operate substantially asdescribed, whereby the top is locked in position by the act of openingand closing it.

4. In combination with the plate G, to support a carriage-top, plates EF, substantially such as described, attached to the bows of the top, andarranged to effect the locking of the top by the movement of the bows toor from each other.

5. In combination with a toothed support.

in g supporting feet or arms, all of which are connected permanentlythereto, and capable of being adjusted at will to seats of difi'erentinclinations, substantially as described and shown.

JOHN ALBERT CHAPMAN.

Witnesses J. H. PAGE, SAMUEL BIsHoP.

